Harvest Assistant Manager

Harvest Assistant Manager

Colignan Farm (Mildura and Murray VIC) 

Costa is Australia’s largest grower, packer and marketer of premium quality fresh fruit and vegetables and has substantial farming operations throughout Australia, supplying a wide variety of products to export markets and supermarket chains across the nation.

Who we are looking for:

Reporting to the Harvest Manager, the Harvest Assistant Manager will plan and coordinate efficient harvest processes and timely labour mobilisation plans to achieve safety, quality, and worker performance and productivity standards across consecutive grape (Jan-May) and citrus (June-Oct) harvest seasons. 

A high level of adaptability regarding work hours including the availability to work early starts and after hours and weekends, subject to operational requirements and weather conditions, is essential.

What you’ll be doing:

The Harvest Assistant Manager is primarily responsible for ensuring designated worker/labour cohorts carry out in-field operations such as fruit picking/pruning in accordance with company operating procedures and technical specifications. The ability to drive a ‘people first’ safety culture in the field and ensure adherence to stringent food safety and quality outcomes, is critical to the success of this role.

Other responsibilities:

• Coordinate year-round harvest activities and mobilise labour including contractor workers to meet operational requirements.
• Supervise, train and performance manage work crews to encourage their initiative and enthusiasm and increase their productivity and efficiency on a consistent basis throughout harvest.
• Ensure harvest supervisors and harvest quality controllers conduct daily worker performance and quality assessments so issues are identified and outcomes communicated to workers.
• Deliver daily pre start toolboxes, reinforcing safety and quality standards.

What you’ll bring to the role:

We’re looking for someone with…

• Minimum 3 years’ experience in a supervisory role, preferably on a large-scale horticultural property.
• Technical knowledge of citrus and grape harvest operations and activities would be advantageous. 
• Time management and the ability to drive workers’ adherence to production deadlines.
• Ability to communicate with a large and culturally diverse workforce.
• Computer literacy (Microsoft Office, Word, Excel).

We care for our people:

People are the heart of Costa. Our employees enjoy some of the best benefits and conditions in the industry. From competitive pay to health, wellbeing, and further learning and development opportunities. No matter the role, you will always benefit from a caring environment that encourages and supports you to thrive, grow and connect.

Enquiries

For an immediate job interview, call Mervyn Bax, Harvest Manager on 0419 136 872.